According to multiple sources, Clayton Kershaw, the ace pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a poor start in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on October 7, 2023. He allowed six runs, six hits, and one home run in the first inning, which was the shortest start of his career, including the regular season and playoffs, as he only logged one out before being pulled. Kershaw allowed hits to the first five hitters and retired just one of eight hitters overall. He was hoping to get his team off to a positive start at home, but he ended the inning allowing six runs on top of a three-run homer, prompting manager Dave Roberts to pull the 35-year-old early. Kershaw also became the first starting pitcher in MLB postseason history to allow five hits and five runs before recording an out, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Dodgers lost the game 11-2 to the Diamondbacks.